Some European officials are accusing the US of profiting from the Ukraine war, report says

• Some European officials have accused the US of profiting from the war in Ukraine, Politico reported.

• One official said the US was making big profits from selling natural gas and weapons.

• A White House official said high prices were caused only by "Putin's energy war against Europe."

Top European officials have accused the United States of profiting from the Ukraine war, according to a report by Politico, in what could damage the West's united front against Russia.

Officials told the publication that the Biden administration was making a "fortune" from Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, while European countries were left to suffer.

"The fact is, if you look at it soberly, the country that is most profiting from this war is the US because they are selling more gas and at higher prices, and because they are selling more weapons," one unnamed senior official told Politico.

"We are really at a historic juncture. America needs to realize that public opinion is shifting in many EU countries," the official added.

The comments were backed publicly and privately by some European officials, diplomats and ministers, according to Politico.

Europe is bracing for a difficult winter due to soaring energy costs. While oil prices have fallen back below pre-invasion levels, natural gas prices remain far higher and are likely to help push the eurozone into recession, according to the European Commission.

Officials, including French president Emmanuel Macron, have called US climate legislation, and ensuing gas prices, "not friendly." A Politico report explained that third-party sales of natural gas exported from the US were increasing prices being in Europe.

A spokesperson for the White House's National Security Council rejected the claims, telling Politico: "The rise in gas prices in Europe is caused by Putin's invasion of Ukraine and Putin's energy war against Europe, period."

Exports of natural gas from the US to Europe "increased dramatically and enabled Europe to diversify away from Russia," the spokesperson added.

Officials are also angry at Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, a $739 billion bill with a big focus on clean energy, which an official from France's foreign affairs ministry called "discriminatory subsidies that will distort competition."

"The Inflation Reduction Act has changed everything," one EU diplomat told Politico. "Is Washington still our ally or not?"

An NPR report highlighted how Europe was increasingly fearful of its industries fleeing to the US, part because of the inflation act.

Signs of discord between the US and the EU will be welcomed by Putin, whose troops have suffered major setbacks in Ukraine in recent months.

A European Commission official told Insider: "The US and the EU are working hand in hand to support Ukraine in its legitimate resistance to Russia's invasion, alongside G7 member and other partners."

Read the original article on Business Insider